INDIANA VS SYRACUSE PREVIEW

Temple’s did almost everything they needed to beat Indiana. Khalif Wyatt scored 31 points for the second straight game. The Owls played excellent defense for the most part but in the end it was Indiana’s defense and Victor Oladipo proving to be the difference. The Owls were able to step up enough on defense to thwart Indiana’s ability to run. Indiana’s offense and shot attempts were limited and had to generate much of their scoring from the foul line but Temple didn’t get enough from anyone other than Wyatt. Temple was smelling upset, but let it all slip away. Was Indiana fortunate to win? Perhaps. But the name of the game at this stage is “survive and advance”.

Syracuse’s beat Cal but it didn’t come easy. Cal’s Allen Crabbe managed only 8 points and they were still in this game to the very end. On paper, Syracuse has the better players and the better system but they got lackadaisical and careless. Syracuse won this game because of their defense. If the Orange offense doesn’t play better against Indiana, they will be heading home early.

Both Indiana and Syracuse have won ugly. Hopefully when they face each other Thursday night we will see the best in both teams. Indiana has an inside-outside combination that is one of the best in the country let alone this tournament. Patience will be the key against the Syracuse’s zone defense. Syracuse hasn’t played against a player like Cody Zeller. Zeller runs the floor better than any big man in college basketball. With Zeller’s ability to flash to the top of the key could open up driving lines or open three’s from the corner. Syracuse has no single player like what Indiana saw in Khalif Wyatt, but their overall talent is better. Indiana won’t have to key on any one player and that may play to their benefit with the way they struggled to contain Wyatt. This should be a very close game. Syracuse will have to avoid Indiana going on big runs and Indiana will have to rebound and show offensive patience against the Orange zone.

TALE OF THE TAPE:

Points Per Game: Indiana 79.5 Syracuse 71.5

Def. PPG: Indiana 62.1 Syracuse 59.4

FG%: Indiana 48.6 Syracuse 44.1

FT%: Indiana 74.7 Syracuse 67.5

3-FG%: Indiana 40.8 Syracuse 33.7

Rebounding: Indiana 38.4 Syracuse 38.7

Offensive Reb: Indiana 12.2 Syracuse 14.4

Assists PG: Indiana 14.5 Syracuse 14.5

Turnover’s PG: Indiana 12.9 Syracuse 12.6

Steals PG: Indiana 7.1 Syracuse 9.0

RPI Rank: Indiana #7 Syracuse #12

Strength of Schedule: Indiana #12 Syracuse #7

Overall Record: Indiana 29-6 Syracuse 28-9

VS Top 25: Indiana 6-3 Syracuse 4-6

VS RPI Top 50: Indiana 10-6 Syracuse 6-8

Effective FG%: Indiana 55.2% Syracuse 49.3%

Ball Handling/TO%: Indiana 19% Syracuse 19%

Offensive Rebounding%: Indiana 39.2% Syracuse 39.5%

Effective FT%: Indiana 45.7% Syracuse 37.1%

Shooting the Ball Well, which is measured by effective field goal percentage (eFG%). eFG% is like field goal percentage except that it gives 50% more credit for made three-pointers (since it accounts for more points). The calculation is (0.5*3PTM + FGM) / FGA.

Taking Care of the Ball, which is measured by turnover percentage (TO%). TO% is a pace-independent way to measure ball security. TO% = Turnovers / Possessions.

Getting to the Free Throw Line is measured by Free Throw Rate (FT Rate). This isn't just a measure of how many free throws a team makes, but the frequency in which they go to the line. FT Rate = Free Throws Attempted / Field Goals Attempted.